PATH FINDER TIRES PRO

They mounted with a floorpump on the first wheelset I mounted them on – a Light Bicycles carbon clincher – and held pressure overnight without sealant. Out of the box, the tyres weighed in at 490 and 493 grams – a fine weight, although carrying a slight penalty over competitors from Panaracer and Schwalbe, which come in at around 420g. When Specialized sent a pair of 700×38 Pathfinders over for review, I was curious to see whether their claimed versatility would marry up with my previous positive associations with the brand’s tyres. And like the Roubaix Pro, it is also adorned with a couple more zesty monikers – it features Specialized’s ‘Gripton’ compound, and it is ‘2Bliss Ready’ (tubeless ready).

PATH FINDER TIRES PRO

Like the Roubaix Pro, the Pathfinder Pro features Specialized’s BlackBelt puncture protection and acceptably supple 120TPI Endurant casing. The Roubaix Pro is one of my favourite fat slicks, offering minimal compromise in speed and excellent durability I got more than 7,000km out of a pair before a puncture. I’ve had good luck with Specialized’s tyres in the past. International markets also get 650Bx47, and the option of ‘transparent’ sidewalls across the board (a rather nice, but still less mindblowing than it sounds, brown gumwall). In Australia it’s available in 700×38 and 700×42 sizes (black only). The Pathfinder appears to strike a middle-ground between most of the above, with a slick centre tread that transitions to a closely-spaced diamond pattern and more aggressive chevrons on the outer edge. The Terra: A wet weather CX tyre, available in 700×33 and 700×38. The Trigger: For “asphalt, hard-pack, and gravel paths”, available in 700×33 tubulars, and 700×38 and 700×47 clincher. The Tracer: A CX tyre for “dry and intermediate” conditions, available in 700×33 and 700×38. The Sawtooth: A versatile herringbone pattern, available in sizes from 700×38 and up. The Roubaix Pro: A bigger-volume slick road tyre, available in 700×32. It bolsters a tyre line-up that includes: The brand claims it “delivers the versatility that … adventure-laden rides deserve: fast rolling, lots of grip, and a whole lot of fun.” The brand’s new Pathfinder Pro 2Bliss Ready tyre is Specialized’s latest gravel tyre, and at face value, seems one of its most versatile offerings yet. Specialized is one of the mainstream originators of the ambiguously defined gravel category, with a broad and growing range of adventure-oriented products on offer.

Path finder tires